i train using both, just in different situations e.g. horizontal for long range boxing, vertical for infighting/trapping etc. i is my understanding that if you punch out for about 3/4 of the way with a vertical fist and then snap it into a horizontal fist at the end to create a whip effect. it is harder to see the punch coming if it is vertical so this gives you a quick and relatively safe initiation. twisting your fist gives you angular momentum/kinetic energy as well as the linear momentum/kinetic energy provided from the vertical starting position. so to cut a long story short, i believe horizontal gives you more power. i may of course be incorrect.

The theory is that you use whichever will give greatest contact with the target. eg. a verticle fist is useless if punching the throat- it wont get there.

I like verticle for strikes to the face, you cant really pick small targets on the face accurately so with verticle fist you stand a better chance of getting something usefull (nose,chin etc).As for power,it comes from your legs and torso so the position of your hand has little bearing on the power of your punch.

I tend to prefer horizontal fists. More often than not in real fights, both people are trading. From that stand-point, horizontal punches offer more defensive protection as your elbow and shoulder rotates to hide your chin. Vertical punching leaves your elbows down and thus leave your face wide open. Thats ok providing that you're not being swung at. That's the not the reality that I've seen however.

Accuracy in punching is just a matter of having developed it through training. With practice it becomes pretty easy to land those blows right on target.

Horizontal fists also have more power as it's easier to get your weight transference behind them - particularly when throwing combinations.

Your punches loose power when you allow your elbows to come up to the sides. If you are twisting your hips and pushing off your rear leg to throw and punch, why split that force and momentum into 2 directions. Out for the elbow and forward for the fist? Let your elbow follow your hand to the target both keeping the full force and momentum as well as concealing your technique as much as you can.

As to the actual difference between horizontal and vertical punches the whip at the end of a horizontal punch will add additional power but nothing to make or break the technique.

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Years ago when I read the Dillman method of pressure point fighting - he mentioned that the position of greatest power in a forward fist strike is ( palm down ) about 45 degrees. Besides being a great angle to get into the solar plex and many other targets it also aligned the bones in the forearm for better ability to add your complete body behind it without stressing the bones.

I decided he was correct when I experimented with the angles on my heavy bag and punch board.

Don't forget the palm and hammer hand strikes. These can be done harder than anything else if you have the room to use it - like side or top of head shots.

Burton Richardson told me that they use the vertical fist but at the last minute of impact they turn the fist to make like a screw or twisting effect that does more damage. I have found through my own experiences that it does do more damage but it lacks the retracting speed to reload and counter so you will have to adjust it to your own situations.

I use a horixontal punch with my cross and jab, or baoxing blast, if you will. On a hook Im comffortable with a vertical fist and in a power punch like a straight right i tend to use a forty five degree angle

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